The words of Cholo Simeone in the press room, after the 0-0 draw against Granada on Wednesday, were crystal clearThey shouted that the team needs air. “We come from a very big effort and the reality is what it is. We have had suspensions, injuries and the team tried to carry the game forward and try to win it. We lacked fluidity, brilliance, clarity and that is achieved when you are fresh”. This morning, at Cerro del Espino, the rojiblanca squad went out to train as on every post-match dayholders and substitutes divided.
The rojiblancos who played against Granada worked in the gym (along with Vrsaljko and Suárez) and the rest on the grass. A grass on which, by the way, Herrera and Giménez were still missing, injured since the beginning of the month. Simeone confessed that he is waiting for them for the next duel, on Saturday 30 at 9:00 p.m., against Athletic in San Mamés.
no job until monday
But that image, that of Atlético exercising, will not be repeated until Monday. Simeone grants four days of rest to his footballers, adding Friday to the usual Saturday, Sunday and Monday morning when the rojiblancos do not have football on the weekend. That necessary rest that their footballers need after the tie against City Champions League quarter-finals and Wednesday-Saturday matches.
A necessary reset to face what remains with guarantees: five league games against direct rivals (Sevilla, Real Sociedad on the last day) without having closed the original objective and this season the only title: qualify among the top four of LaLiga to qualify for the next Champions League. On Monday the squad will be back, in the afternoon, 18:30. And Simeone hopes that two more footballers: Herrera and Giménez.